Chapter 4 – Treasure Land

Volume 1: Apocalypse Beginning

Wen Yu watched as One-Eye devoured the Zombie's innards in huge gulps, not daring to even breathe loudly, while quietly edging his feet backward!

Until One-Eye turned his head and noticed his "old neighbor."

Perhaps it was because fresh flesh and blood had higher nutritional value, or perhaps the virus inside the Zombie's body did little to aid his own evolution.

One-Eye glanced at the Zombie's mangled corpse beneath him, then at Wen Yu, who was completely unharmed. The ugly One-Eye slowly fixed his gaze on Wen Yu, the coldness in his eyes growing ever more intense.

Wen Yu understood-this was the look a Mutant Beast gave its prey. In his previous life, he'd seen this gaze countless times.

"Roar!"

A low growl sounded, and One-Eye shot forward like a bolt of lightning.

The moment Wen Yu saw One-Eye crouch, he spun around and fled at top speed.

"Ahhh, faster, faster!"

Wen Yu knew clearly that his only chance of survival was to dash into a nearby residence. With the security door, maybe he could find a way out.

But that was too far.

For One-Eye, the distance between them was less than forty meters.

For One-Eye, that was just two seconds.

Even factoring in Wen Yu's running speed, in about four seconds, One-Eye's pounce would reach him. If he was caught, Wen Yu would undoubtedly die.

Even if he was only injured, as an ordinary person, the Zombie virus in One-Eye's mouth would send Wen Yu straight to the grave.

What made Wen Yu even more desperate was that he was so close-so close to completing his job change.

Once he changed jobs, relying on his combat experience from his previous life, he might barely be able to fight One-Eye, or at the very least, escape.

But because of his position, One-Eye was stuck between him and the Exchange Pillar, becoming an insurmountable chasm.

"Am I going to die right after being reborn? Did the Heavenly Lord let me live again just to make me taste despair once more?" Wen Yu understood that what lay before him was a dead end.

Yet the closer he got to this moment, the calmer Wen Yu became. In his previous life, as cannon fodder, he'd been a step away from death countless times, and he survived by staying calm and reckless. This was the most precious thing Wen Yu had brought back from the Apocalypse.

The chase closed the gap in an instant-now less than ten meters. Wen Yu could even smell the stench from One-Eye's mouth. He knew that running was no longer an option.

"What do I do, what do I do?"

Cold sweat poured down uncontrollably as Wen Yu quickly scanned his surroundings.

"In an open area, I'm definitely dead. Only…"

Wen Yu adjusted his direction slightly and dashed headlong into the convenience store ahead.

At that moment, One-Eye crouched slightly, about to launch his attack.

Diving into the convenience store, Wen Yu quickly toppled a shelf.

Crash.

A loud bang-Wen Yu felt a tremendous force slam into his back.

"Ah!"

With a miserable cry, Wen Yu was sent flying, spitting out a mouthful of blood, his chest tight and heavy.

He saw the shelf before him smashed to pieces by One-Eye's pounce. The ugly eye stared at him cruelly, its bloodthirst and brutality sinking Wen Yu's heart to the bottom.

Wen Yu had hoped to temporarily block One-Eye in the cramped convenience store, but One-Eye gave him no time at all, directly trapping Wen Yu inside. The small, enclosed space turned into a tomb.

One-Eye paced back and forth inside the convenience store, his single remaining eye fixed intently on Wen Yu, the mockery in his gaze unmistakably clear.

Wen Yu clenched his fists tightly. The Beast before him, with that mocking look, made Wen Yu burn with rage.

The Demon Qi not only evolved Mutant Beasts, but also enhanced their intelligence. Dogs were already clever animals, and now, as a Level 1 Mutant Beast, One-Eye was playing the role of a hunter toying with his prey.

Death-of course Wen Yu feared it. Otherwise, in his previous life, he would have ended it himself long ago.

But Wen Yu understood one thing: the more afraid of death you are, the faster you die. "If worst comes to worst, I'll fight you to the end. If I die, you won't get away unscathed either. I've got nothing, so what's there to be afraid of?" Facing this desperate situation, Wen Yu's reckless side emerged uncontrollably, and he shouted loudly at One-Eye.

One-Eye was startled by the sudden shout, instinctively leaping backward. In that moment, Wen Yu caught a flash out of the corner of his eye.

It was a vertical vortex, about the size of a fist, radiating a mysterious silvery-white glow, spinning ceaselessly.

Because of its position, it had just been blocked by One-Eye's body, so Wen Yu hadn't seen it. With One-Eye's back to the vortex, he couldn't see it either.

But with One-Eye's jump, the silvery-white vortex was exposed to Wen Yu's sight.

Wen Yu was thrilled. "I knew the Heavenly Lord wouldn't play me like this. There really is a way out!" Wen Yu shouted inwardly.

Yet his face remained expressionless. Wen Yu was afraid One-Eye would sense something and rush over to finish him off-then he'd truly be doomed.

Wen Yu knew what that vortex was: it was the entrance to the Treasure Land, a place symbolizing opportunity and power.

Such vortexes were the gateways to Treasure Lands.

With the arrival of the Apocalypse, humanity's living space was relentlessly squeezed.

But the mysterious Ruler behind it all clearly hadn't abandoned humanity. Besides the ubiquitous Exchange Pillars, the greatest boon given to humans was the Treasure Land.

Treasure Lands came in all sizes, and their appearances were completely random. Their durations varied greatly-some vanished as soon as they appeared, others persisted for a long time.

In his previous life, Wen Yu had heard from others that the largest Settlement in Mudanjiang City controlled a Treasure Land that had lasted for three months, with no sign of disappearing.

Every time a Treasure Land appeared, it would trigger bloody conflict among humans, all for the sake of profit.

The allure of Treasure Lands for humanity was simply too great.

Treasure Lands could produce treasures of any level, and both the quantity and quality of these treasures were entirely random.

However, the items produced inside were almost always high-grade goods not available for exchange at the Exchange Pillar: high-quality skills, high-quality items, top-tier equipment, and even Class Change Scrolls for Hidden Classes.

Most importantly, Treasure Lands only admitted humans. For Wen Yu right now, this was undoubtedly his last lifeline.

Even if there was nothing inside that could boost his combat power.

Even if, upon entering, the Treasure Land immediately closed and spat him out.

Even if there were countless traps or deadly trials inside, enough to kill him.

For Wen Yu, dying right now versus risking the unknown for a chance-there was no question which he would choose.